Rumors

KnicksMuse: They asked candidates in the NYC Democratic Mayoral Debate how they feel about the Knicks firing Tom Thibodeau. Michael Blake was the only candidate with a thumbs up.

x.com

His frustration extends to the Democratic establishment — especially President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. “They won’t step up to the plate and say that this dude is incompetent from Day 1,” Hodges said of Biden. “We can’t say that because it’s ‘politically incorrect.’ And then you wanna give me Kamala Harris? Nah, man.” He doesn’t blame the system for being what it is. He blames us — for still expecting it to save us. “We didn’t say Democrats and Republicans we want y’all to sit down and listen to what we need over here… but we ain’t unified like that.” Unity, for Hodges, is the missing piece. It’s not about waiting for another Barack or denouncing another Trump. It’s about organization, ownership, and truth-telling. Even when it’s uncomfortable. Especially when it is. “It’s a game, man,” Hodges said one more time, with a sigh. “And I hope we can see where we sit — because it’s getting ready to get REALLY hectic.”

ScoopB.com

Chatham House includes high-profile figures like the economist Larry Summers and the historian Niall Ferguson, and more partisan figures like Shapiro and the Democratic analyst David Shor. Andreessen lurks. But several participants described it to me as something like a gladiatorial arena with Cuban most often in the center, sparring with conservatives. (“no idea what you are talking about :)” Cuban emailed in response to an inquiry about his arguments on Chatham House.)

semafor.com

Stephen A Smith wants everyone to think he could run for the Democratic nomination for president. Whether he actually will do it is a whole other matter and one that won’t be resolved for another two years. In the meantime, Smith’s agent wants that conversation to die down. In a Friday panel appearance at the Sloan Sports Analytics Conference in Boston, Endeavor president Mark Shapiro definitively ruled out Stephen A. 2028. “He will not run for president,” Shapiro said. “He’s going to continue to entertain those conversations, but he will not run for president.”

Awful Announcing

Stephen A. Smith teased a political future on his eponymous YouTube show. “I doubt I’ll ever run. It’s not me. I live a pretty good life—and I don’t want to ruin it by getting involved in politics,” Smith said. “​But I’ve got to tell y’all something: the Democratic Party looks so pathetic after this election, I might entertain running. I just might change my mind one day. I doubt it. But I might. Because how much would it take to beat ya’ll? And Trump can’t run again. He’s done.”

Front Office Sports

Anti-establishment Republican and former NBA player Royce White lost his bid for a U.S. Senate seat Tuesday after falling to incumbent Democrat Sen. Amy Klobuchar in Minnesota's top election matchup. White had acknowledged he was as surprised as anyone when the state Republican Party endorsed him in May, but the self-described populist went on to get a plurality in the August primary against a more conventional Republican, Navy veteran Joe Fraser.

ESPN

Gov. Tim Walz – the Democratic candidate for vice president – shared his take on Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade’s statue, which was unveiled to the public on Sunday. “How gracious was D-Wade though, about this, to the sculptor?” Walz said. “Because this is pretty horrific.” Walz continued. “It’s horrific, but D-Wade, what a class act,” Walz said. “He’s like, ‘No, this is really nice. I’m grateful.’ Yeah, I don’t know how they get that wrong.”

Heat Nation

With the election looming, he made it clear that Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, has his full backing. "The ones that stay home and don't vote are the ones that worry me," Popovich said. "We need everybody to vote, and I hope that they won't stay home, that they'll understand that this guy is a scam artist. He's great at it. I'll give him credit for that. He's the best ever, but he makes you want to puke."

San Antonio Express-News

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich cheered the Texas Supreme Court’s decision late Thursday night to pause the execution of an autistic man who was scheduled to be put to death. With hours to spare before Robert Roberson was set to be put to death, the court granted a temporary reprieve in response to an extraordinary action by a Texas House committee. The committee, comprised of both Democrats and Republicans, subpoenaed the 57-year-old Roberson to testify before the panel, a move made in hopes of delaying his scheduled lethal injection.

San Antonio Express-News

Former NBA star Matt Barnes admitted that he smoked marijuana prior to an interview with Vice President Kamala Harris. Barnes and his co-host, fellow former NBAer Stephen Jackson, conducted a roughly 45 minute interview with Harris on their 'All the Smoke' podcast. Speaking on The Dan Le Batard Show after his interview with the Democratic Party presidential nominee, Barnes admitted that he 'pre-gamed' his discussion with Harris and did not bring any drugs to the White House. 'I did not, unfortunately, get to smoke in the White House,' Barnes said. 'But if she wins, I was invited back and I may have to sneak something in... nah I'm playing.

Daily Mail

According to Max Tani of Semafor, not only did the 2024 Democratic presidential nominee do an appearance on Wisconsin Public Radio, she also recorded an interview with two of the most esteemed journalists of our time: former NBA players Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, for their “All the Smoke” podcast.

SB Nation

Royce White: Best shooter of all-time… Air-balled on this one. Men saying Women’s reproductive rights as their top policy response, is such a blatant virtue signal, it might be the weakest thing I’ve ever seen. The issue is not being taken back from the states, stop the cap. The whole thing is becoming a straw man to justify voting for Democrats that have lost their minds. Steph, tell me about the women’s rights for Uyghur muslims… All those women and girls… thrown in prison camps for their faith and ethnicity. Not a peep from you or the NBA. Just shut up if you won’t keep it real.

x.com

Andrew Desiderio: New — Steve Kerr is speaking at the Dem convention tonight

Twitter

Conservative populist and former NBA player Royce White defeated Navy veteran Joe Fraser in Minnesota's primary election for the Republican nomination on Tuesday and will challenge Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar in November. White was a first-round pick by the Houston Rockets in 2012 but never played for the team after disclosing mental health issues and saying he did not want to fly to road games with the team. He signed multiple 10-day contacts with the Sacramento Kings in 2013, playing in three games, but was eventually let go before playing overseas for several years. The 33-year-old White, who was an outspoken advocate for mental health awareness in sports, also considered a future in mixed martial arts but lost his only professional fight in 2021.

ESPN